Tibi
credidi. —
Seneca the Elder, Controversies
1.1.10
I believed you.
Another way to look at it: I gave trust to you.
Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum (3): to entrust; trust; believe.
Many of our blessings bring bane to us.
Alt. : Often our goods do us harm.
(He’s talking about memory in particular.) Multa is the neuter nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): many, much. Bona is the nominative plural form of bonum, bonī (2n): good; benefit; (in pl.) possessions. Nostra is the neuter nominative plural form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. Nōbīs is the dative form of nōs: we. Nocent is the third person plural form of noceō, nocēre, nocuī, nocitum (2): to injure, hurt.
And no sensible man becomes angry with nature.
(Why the sage doesn’t get mad at wrongdoers: nature has made wisdom rare. . .) Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one. Autem (particle): on the other hand, but, however; and, moreover. Nātūrae is the dative singular form of nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature. Sānus /sāna/sānum (1/2): healthy; sane, sensible. Īrāscitur is the third person singular form of īrāscor, īrāscī, īrātus sum (3, deponent): to become angry; be angry.
Thus it is a deed of my own I am defending.
More literally: Thus I am defending my crime.
Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore. Crīminī is the dative singular form of crīmen, crīminis (3n): accusation; crime. Meō is the m/n dative singular form of meus/mea/meum (1/2): my, mine. Adsum, adesse, adfuī, adfutūrus (irreg.): to be present; give attention to; help; protect, defend.
E
e
To you, yet one thing is lacking.
Alt. : You still lack one thing.
Adhūc (adv.): still, yet. Ūnus/ūna/ ūnum (1/2, irreg.): one; alone; only. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Deest is the third person singular form of dēsum, dēesse/dēsse, dēfuī, dēfutūrus (irreg.): to be lacking.
Who attended your wedding?
More literally: Who was present for your wedding?
Quis /quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Interfuit is the third person singular perfect form of intersum, interesse, interfuī, interfutūrus (irreg.): to be between; differ; be present at, attend (takes a dative object). Nūptiīs is the dative form of nūptiae, nūptiārum (1f, plural only): nuptials, wedding; marriage. Tuīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours.
I am far from being Cicero.
More literally: I am much distant from Cicero.
Multum (adv.): much, a lot, greatly. Ab/ ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Cicerōne is the ablative singular form of Cicerō, Cicerōnis (3m): Cicero. Absum, abesse, āfuī, āfutūrus (irreg.): to be away, be absent, be distant.
I have put Coelius in charge of the province.
Nōs: we (first person plural is used here for the first person singular). Prōvinciae is the dative singular form of prōvincia, prōvinciae (1f): province. Praefēcimus is the first person plural perfect form of praeficiō, praeficere, praefēcī, praefectum (3, –iō): to put in charge. Coelium is the masculine accusative form of the family name Coelius/Coelia/Coelium (2m).
Place yourself on my neck.
More literally: Be placed onto our neck.
(Aeneas is offering to carry his father away from Troy.) Cervīcī is the dative singular form of cervīx, cervīcis (3f): neck. Inpōnere is the singular passive imperative form of inpōnō, inpōnere, inposuī, inpositum (3—also impōnō): to place on, lay upon. Nostrae is the dative singular form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours.
He lies upon a wound.
(Describing someone noble who has been tortured: no matter how he sleeps, he lies on a wound.) Vulnerī is the dative singular form of vulnus, vulneris (3n): wound; blow, misfortune. Incumbit is the third person singular form of incumbō, incumbere, incubuī, — (3): to lean on, lie on; press on, burden; apply oneself to.
Aurora is friendly to the muses.
Aurōra, aurōrae (1f): the goddess of the morning; dawn, sunrise. Mūsīs is the dative plural form of mūsa, mūsae (1f): muse; poetic composition. Amīcus/ amīca /amīcum (1/2): friendly.
I will be agreeable to my friends, to my enemies mild and indulgent.
Erō is the first person singular future form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Amīcīs is the dative plural form of amīcus, amīcī (2m): friend. Iūcundus /iūcunda/iūcundum (1/2): pleasant, agreeable. Inimīcīs is the dative plural form of inimīcus, inimīcī (2m): enemy. Mītis /mītis/mīte (3): mild, gentle. Et (conj.): and. Facilis /facilis/facile (3): easy; good-natured, courteous.
I do not have time.
More literally: There is not time for me.
Nōn: not. Est: there is. Mihi is the dative form of ego. Tempus, temporis (3n): time.
You know he has a son?
More literally: You know there is a son to him?
Huic is the m/f/n dative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Fīlium is the accusative singular form of fīlius, fīliī (2m): son. Scīs is the second person singular form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know. Esse: to be.
This place too is called Troy.
More literally: Troy is also the name for this place. (This place also has Troy as a name.)
Troia, Troiae (1f): Troy. Et (adv.): also, too; even. Huic is the m/f/n dative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Locō is the dative singular form of locus, locī (2m): place. Nōmen, nōminis (3n): name. Est: is.
Do you have three hundred gold Philippics inside?
More literally: Are there for you inside three hundred gold Philippian coins?
Sunt: are there. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Intus (adv.): within, inside. Aureī is the masculine nominative plural form of aureus/aurea/aureum (1/2): gold, golden. Trecentī /trecentae/trecenta (1/2): three hundred. Nummī is the nominative plural form of nummus, nummī (2m): coin. Philippī is the masculine nominative plural form of Philippus/Philippa/Philippum (1/2): (esp. of coins) of Philip II of Macedon, Philippic, Philippian.
He selected a suitable spot for the camp.
Castrīs is the dative plural form of castrum, castrī (2n): fortified place; (in the plural only) camp. Idōneum is the m/n accusative singular form of idōneus/idōnea/idōneum (1/2): suitable. Locum is the accusative singular form of locus, locī (2m): place. Dēligit is the third person singular form of dēligō, dēligere, dēlēgī, dēlēctum (3): to select (the historical present).
E
e
If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you will help me.
More literally: If the Syrian will have defeated me, you will be for a help to me.
Sī (conj.): if. Vīcerit is the third person singular future perfect form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to conquer, defeat, subdue; win, be victorious. Mē is the accusative form of ego. Syrus /Syra/Syrum (1/2): Syrian. Auxiliō is the dative singular form of auxilium, auxiliī (2n): help, aid. Eris is the second person singular future form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Mihi is the dative form of ego.
He cut off the head.
Alt. : He cut off his head.
More literally: He cut off the head for him.
(He cut the head off of a corpse to carry it away.) Caput is the accusative singular form of caput, capitis (3n): head. Eī is the m/f/n dative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Amputāvit is the third person singular perfect form of amputō, amputāre, amputāvī, amputātum (1): to cut off.
My hands and your jaws will crack together, unless you let go of me.
More literally: Hands for me will crack, jaws for you, unless you release me.
Less literally: I’ll punch you in the jaw unless you let me go.
Crepābunt is the third person plural future form of crepō, crepāre, crepuī, crepitum (1): to rattle, crack. Mihi is the dative form of ego. Manūs is the nominative plural form of manus, manūs (4f): hand. Mālae is the nominative plural form of māla, mālae (1f): jaw. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Nisi (conj.): unless; except. Mē is the accusative form of ego. Omittis is the second person singular form of omittō, omittere, omīsī, omissum (3): to let go of, release.